Category: Biz Tech

Siemens has finalized the acquisition of Altair Engineering Inc., a prominent provider of industrial simulation and analysis software, for approximately $10.6 billion. This strategic move is set to enhance Siemens' capabilities in simulation, high-performance computing , data science, and artificial intelligence . The transaction involves Siemens purchasing all outstanding shares of Altair at $113.00 per share in cash, representing a 19% premium over Altair's closing price on October 21, 2024, the last trading day before media speculation about the deal. This

Zorin OS 17.3 has been officially released, introducing significant updates aimed at enhancing user experience and privacy. A notable change in this iteration is the replacement of Mozilla Firefox with Brave as the default web browser. This decision follows Mozilla's policy adjustments, prompting Zorin OS to align with a browser that emphasizes user privacy and security. Brave offers features such as tracker and fingerprinting protection, built-in Tor-powered private browsing, and an integrated ad blocker. These additions are designed to provide

Astra Tech has incorporated Botim AI, an advanced artificial intelligence assistant, into its Botim Ultra App, enhancing the digital experience for over 150 million users globally. Botim AI functions as a chat-based assistant, offering users intelligent, AI-driven conversations and assistance across various domains, including productivity, education, research, and daily problem-solving. This integration aims to provide seamless access to cutting-edge features directly within the Ultra App. Dr. Tariq Bin Hendi, Board Member and CEO of Astra Tech, highlighted the significance of this development:

Chinese artificial intelligence firm DeepSeek has unveiled its latest large language model, DeepSeek-V3-0324, on the AI development platform Hugging Face. This release signifies a notable advancement in AI performance, particularly in reasoning and coding abilities. The DeepSeek-V3-0324 model demonstrates significant improvements over its predecessor, DeepSeek-V3, across various benchmarks. In the MMLU-Pro assessment, which evaluates understanding across multiple subjects, the model's score increased from 75.9 to 81.2. Similarly, in the GPQA benchmark, designed to test general knowledge and problem-solving skills, the score

Apple Inc. has initiated the use of imagery and data collected through its Apple Maps' Look Around feature to train artificial intelligence models, starting in March 2025. This strategic move aims to bolster various AI-driven services, including image recognition, creation, and enhancement. The Look Around feature, akin to Google's Street View, offers users interactive street-level imagery. Apple gathers these visuals and corresponding 3D data using vehicles and, in pedestrian-only zones, backpacks equipped with cameras, sensors, and devices such as iPhones

Artificial intelligence initiatives are increasingly central to corporate strategies, yet a significant proportion falter before reaching fruition. Estimates indicate that over 80% of AI projects fail—twice the failure rate of other IT projects. A primary factor in these failures is inadequate data management, encompassing issues such as poor data quality, fragmented data sources, and insufficient governance. Organizations often grapple with integrating data from diverse sources, a challenge that hampers AI implementation. According to Deloitte's State of AI in the Enterprise

Netflix has expanded its high dynamic range offerings by integrating HDR10+ support into its streaming platform. This advancement aims to deliver improved picture quality, featuring enhanced clarity and more vibrant colours for viewers with compatible devices. Previously, Netflix's HDR content was predominantly available in Dolby Vision, a format not supported by Samsung televisions. This limitation meant that Samsung users were restricted to the standard HDR10 format, which employs static metadata for tone mapping across an entire programme. In contrast, HDR10+

A technical issue within Google Maps has resulted in the inadvertent deletion of some users' Timeline data, with recovery options limited to those who had previously enabled encrypted backups. Google acknowledged the problem, stating that users without encrypted backups will be unable to recover their lost data. Genevieve Park, a Google spokesperson, confirmed the issue, noting that while most users with backups can restore their information, those without this safeguard face permanent data loss. The Timeline feature in Google Maps allows users

Oracle Corporation has announced the general availability of its Exadata Database Service on Exascale Infrastructure within the Oracle Database@Azure platform. This development aims to provide customers with enhanced scalability, cost-efficiency, and performance for their database workloads. The Exascale deployment option introduces a multitenant, hyper-elastic intelligent data architecture that delivers the advantages of Oracle Exadata in a cloud environment. By eliminating the need for dedicated database and storage servers, customers can experience up to 95% lower minimum infrastructure costs. This model allows

European data center operator NorthC Group has officially inaugurated its latest facility in Winterthur, Switzerland, marking the company's fourth data center in the country. This strategic expansion underscores NorthC's commitment to providing regional data center services with global connectivity, catering to the escalating demand for secure and sustainable digital infrastructure. The Winterthur data center, strategically situated near the Turm Areal, encompasses approximately 1,100 square meters and boasts an initial IT capacity of 1.8 megawatts, with provisions for future expansion. This facility

Pasqal, a French quantum computing startup, has integrated its neutral-atom quantum processors into Microsoft's Azure Quantum cloud service, marking a significant advancement in cloud-based quantum computing accessibility. This collaboration allows Azure Quantum users to utilize Pasqal's unique technology to address complex computational challenges without the need for substantial infrastructure investments. Neutral-atom quantum computing represents a notable shift from traditional quantum computing methods. Pasqal's approach involves manipulating neutral atoms—atoms with an equal number of protons and electrons—using optical "tweezers" formed by laser

Cognite, an industrial software firm backed by Saudi Aramco, has inaugurated an artificial intelligence services center in Bengaluru, Karnataka. The company is actively pursuing partnerships with leading Indian conglomerates to enhance industrial operations through advanced AI solutions. The newly established center has already secured collaborations with a prominent cement manufacturer and a major automotive company, though specific details remain undisclosed. Håkon Bjerke, Cognite's Chief Strategy Officer, emphasized the company's commitment to the Indian market, stating, "Cognite is betting on India

MSI, a global leader in high-performance server solutions, has unveiled its latest range of server platforms at CloudFest 2025, held from March 18 to 20 at Europa-Park, Germany. The new lineup includes Open Rack v3 Servers, Data Center Modular Hardware System Servers, and NVIDIA MGX™ AI Servers, each designed to enhance scalability, efficiency, and sustainability in cloud computing environments. The ORv3 Servers focus on modularity and standardisation, enabling seamless integration and rapid scalability to support hyperscale growth. These servers

Siemens, Europe's largest industrial technology company, has partnered with Minima, a pioneer in decentralized blockchain technology, to integrate blockchain capabilities into its devices across the automotive, robotics, energy, and healthcare sectors. This collaboration aims to bolster data integrity and security in the rapidly evolving landscape of connected industrial systems. The partnership is facilitated through Siemens Cre8Ventures, an initiative dedicated to accelerating industrial transformation by collaborating with startups specializing in artificial intelligence, digital twins, cybersecurity, and related fields. By embedding Minima's

Amazon has announced that, effective March 28, 2025, all voice recordings from Echo devices will be processed exclusively in the cloud, eliminating the option for local processing. This change accompanies the introduction of Alexa+, a generative AI-powered assistant designed to offer more advanced features and a human-like interaction experience. The shift has raised significant privacy concerns among users and experts alike. Previously, certain Echo models offered a "Do Not Send Voice Recordings" setting, allowing users to process voice commands locally without

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency have issued an urgent advisory concerning the Medusa ransomware, which has compromised over 300 organizations across critical infrastructure sectors. This cyber threat employs sophisticated tactics, including double and triple extortion schemes, posing significant risks to various industries. Medusa ransomware operates as a ransomware-as-a-service model, allowing cybercriminals to lease its infrastructure for malicious activities. Initially identified in June 2021, Medusa has evolved from a closed operation to

Oracle Red Bull Racing is intensifying its collaboration with Oracle Corporation to integrate advanced cloud computing and artificial intelligence technologies into its operations for the 2025 Formula One season. This strategic move aims to bolster the team's performance both on and off the track, reflecting a commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technology in the highly competitive world of motorsport. The team has adopted Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Compute A2 and A4 Flex shapes, leading to a 10% increase in simulation speeds.

MoirAI Cloud, a Florida-based AI infrastructure startup, has secured $1 million in pre-seed funding to enhance energy efficiency in AI-driven data centres. The company’s innovative approach leverages AI to optimise power consumption and significantly reduce energy waste, with the potential to cut energy usage by up to 95%. The investment comes at a time when the global data centre market is under increasing pressure to adopt more sustainable practices. Data centres are notorious for their high energy consumption, contributing substantially to

Du, a leading telecom and digital services provider in the United Arab Emirates, has entered into a strategic collaboration with Microsoft to enhance cybersecurity services across the nation. Announced during the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona from March 3 to 6, 2025, this partnership aims to integrate Microsoft Azure's advanced security technologies and artificial intelligence capabilities with du Tech's managed services, offering a comprehensive security solution tailored for UAE businesses. Central to this collaboration is the incorporation of Large Language

Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the United Arab Emirates' National Security Adviser and brother to President Mohamed bin Zayed, is set to visit Washington. His agenda includes advocating for relaxed U.S. export controls on advanced semiconductors essential for artificial intelligence development and exploring investment opportunities within the United States. The U.S. government has recently tightened export restrictions on AI chips produced by companies like Nvidia, limiting access for nations such as China, while granting exemptions to close allies like

Swiss private equity firm Partners Group has finalized an agreement to acquire Australian data center operator GreenSquare Data Centers , committing up to AU$1.2 billion to establish a next-generation data center platform across Australia. GreenSquareDC, established in October 2022, is actively developing a data center in Belmont, Perth. The four-story facility is set to offer 68,000 square meters of gross floor area on a 38,000-square-meter site, with the first stage anticipated to be completed by mid-2024. The company also

A significant cyberattack has struck Tata Technologies, a subsidiary of Tata Motors, resulting in the exposure of 1.4 terabytes of sensitive data on the dark web. The breach, orchestrated by the ransomware group Hunters International, has compromised a vast array of confidential information, including employee records, corporate documents, and client contracts. This incident underscores the escalating threat posed by sophisticated cybercriminal organizations targeting multinational corporations. The leaked dataset comprises over 730,000 files, encompassing Excel spreadsheets, PDF documents, and PowerPoint presentations.

Cybersecurity researchers have identified a novel malware strain, dubbed 'nullifAI', embedded within machine learning models hosted on Hugging Face, a leading platform for sharing AI models and datasets. This discovery underscores a growing threat vector in the AI community, highlighting vulnerabilities in platforms that facilitate the sharing and deployment of ML models. The 'nullifAI' malware employs a sophisticated technique involving corrupted Pickle files—a Python-specific method for serializing and deserializing objects. By manipulating these files, attackers can inject malicious code that

A massive cyberattack disrupted X, formerly known as Twitter, on March 10, 2025, affecting tens of thousands of users worldwide. The hacking group "Dark Storm" claimed responsibility for the distributed denial-of-service attack, while Elon Musk, owner of X, suggested the assault originated from IP addresses traced to Ukraine. The outage began early Monday morning, with users reporting difficulties accessing the platform, posting content, and sending messages. According to Downdetector, a website that tracks online service disruptions, the number of affected

Elon Musk, owner of the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, claimed on Monday that the platform was under a "massive cyberattack" after widespread outages affected tens of thousands of users globally. The disruptions began early in the day, with reports of service issues peaking at over 40,000 by mid-morning, according to data from Downdetector, a website that tracks online service interruptions. Users in major cities, including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and London, reported difficulties accessing their accounts,

Dubai continues to dominate the global greenfield foreign direct investment rankings, further solidifying its position as a key investment hub. According to the latest data from the Financial Times’ fDi Markets, the emirate secured its spot as the leading destination for greenfield FDI projects in 2024. This achievement highlights the city’s resilience and attractiveness as an investment destination, despite global economic challenges. Greenfield FDI refers to investments made by foreign companies establishing new operations or facilities, such as factories, offices,

A widespread outage on Sunday left Mastercard users across the globe unable to complete purchases and online payments, causing significant inconvenience and prompting a flurry of complaints on social media platforms. The disruption began on the morning of March 9, with Downdetector, a website that monitors service interruptions, recording over 500 reports of issues. Users from countries including Ukraine, Japan, Australia, and the United States reported problems with card payments, both online and in physical stores. Social media platforms were abuzz

Octa, a global contract-for-difference broker established in 2011, has been honoured with the 'Best Use of AI in Fintech 2025' award by Global Business Magazine. This accolade highlights Octa's commitment to integrating artificial intelligence into its proprietary trading platform, OctaTrader, enhancing user experience and trading efficiency. The award recognises OctaTrader's suite of AI-driven tools, notably the AI Pattern Recognition feature and OctaVision. The AI Pattern Recognition tool automatically identifies and displays pertinent market patterns, streamlining the technical analysis process for

Apple has unveiled a monumental plan to invest $500 billion in the United States over the next four years, underscoring its commitment to domestic manufacturing, artificial intelligence development, and job creation. This initiative represents one of the largest single investments by a technology company in U.S. history. The investment encompasses several key components aimed at bolstering Apple's infrastructure and technological capabilities. A significant portion is allocated to the construction of a massive manufacturing facility in Texas, dedicated to producing AI

WhatsApp has introduced a new 'Lists' feature for users in the United Arab Emirates, aiming to enhance chat organization and user experience. This update allows individuals to categorize their conversations into custom groups, facilitating easier navigation and prioritization of messages. The 'Lists' feature enables users to create personalized categories such as 'Family', 'Work', or 'Friends', thereby streamlining access to pertinent conversations. To utilize this functionality, users can tap the '+' icon on the filter bar atop the Chats tab, assign a

Samsung Gulf Electronics has formalised a strategic partnership with e& UAE, the telecommunications division of the global technology conglomerate e&, by signing a Memorandum of Understanding at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain. This collaboration aims to harness artificial intelligence to enhance customer experiences and drive digital transformation across the United Arab Emirates. The agreement outlines several key initiatives, including the development of AI-powered connectivity solutions tailored for Samsung devices. By integrating advanced AI applications, both companies intend to

DuckDuckGo, the search engine renowned for its commitment to user privacy, has introduced a suite of artificial intelligence tools aimed at enhancing user experience while maintaining strict privacy standards. These developments mark a significant step in the company's efforts to integrate advanced AI functionalities without compromising its foundational principles. The company has officially launched Duck.ai, an AI chatbot designed to provide users with conversational interactions. This feature allows users to engage in private conversations with third-party AI chat models, including

The UK government's proposal to reform copyright law to accommodate artificial intelligence development has ignited a heated debate among creative professionals and industry leaders. The proposed changes aim to allow AI companies to utilize copyrighted works without prior permission from rights holders, provided that the creators do not explicitly opt out. This initiative seeks to position the UK as a leader in AI innovation by simplifying access to vast datasets necessary for training AI models. However, it has been met

MSI has quietly increased the prices of its GeForce RTX 5070 Ti graphics cards, with some models now exceeding $1,000. This move has sparked concerns among consumers and industry observers about the affordability of mid-range GPUs. Initially, Nvidia set the manufacturer's suggested retail price for the RTX 5070 Ti at $749, positioning it as a cost-effective option for gamers seeking high performance without the premium price tag of flagship models. However, MSI's recent adjustments have seen the base model, the